Heinrich Rathmann

Heinrich Rathmann (1819)

Heinrich Rathmann (born January 10, 1750 in Neuengamme , † March 14, 1821 in Pechau ) was a teacher , historian and Protestant pastor .

Life

Rathmann was born the son of a farmer. His father died early. After attending the community school in Bergedorf, he studied Protestant theology at the university in Halle (Saale) . In addition, to finance his studies he already gave lessons in the orphanage of the Francke Foundations .

In 1771 he became a teacher at the Royal Pedagogy Hall. In 1774 he went to Neuhaldensleben as rector and deacon .

From there, Rathmann came into contact with the Wednesday Society founded by Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim , a group of people interested in literature in Magdeburg . Rathmann maintained contact with Johann Heinrich Rolle , Friedrich von Koepcken , Johann Bernhard Basedow , Johann Samuel Patzke , Friedrich Gabriel Resewitz , Gottfried Benedict Funk and Gotthilf Sebastian Rötger .

In 1777 he took over the position of preacher and teacher in the Berge monastery . Due to a falling out with the abbot Friedrich Gabriel Resewitz, who was in office here, in the course of an investigation into the administrative activities of the abbot in 1790/1791, he left this position in 1793 and became a teacher and pastor in Pechau and Calenberge . He held this position until his death in 1821.

In 1798 he became superintendent , in 1806 royal inspector and in 1816 consistorial councilor .

Works

His most important work, History of the City of Magdeburg , appeared between 1800 and 1816 (4 volumes; Vol. 4 in two volumes, published by Johann Adam Creutz ). Rathmann also published numerous articles on the history of the city in magazines.

From a pedagogical point of view, Rathmann stood up for the goals of the pedagogue Basedow, was committed to improving the education of the peasants and turned against serfdom .

Honor

The city of Magdeburg named a street in his honor ( Rathmannstraße ).

literature

• Ingelore Buchholz : Rathmann, Heinrich. In: Guido Heinrich, Gunter Schandera (ed.): Magdeburg Biographical Lexicon 19th and 20th centuries. Biographical lexicon for the state capital Magdeburg and the districts of Bördekreis, Jerichower Land, Ohrekreis and Schönebeck. Scriptum, Magdeburg 2002, ISBN 3-933046-49-1 .
• Eduard Jacobs :  Rathmann, Heinrich . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 27, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1888, pp. 355-357.
• Martin Wiehle : Magdeburg personalities. Published by the Magistrate of the City of Magdeburg, Department of Culture. imPuls Verlag, Magdeburg 1993, ISBN 3-910146-06-6 .